Allen Edmonds Appreciation Thread - reviews, pictures, sizing, etc...

[bucksfan]

Bucksfan,
awesome photos. Can you comment on the walnut daltons a bit more? I'm considering a pair, but in that photo they look like alden whiskey, which I do not need more of.
Also, can you share your impressions about the boots in general? (do you like them, etc)

thanks!

Thanks! - the walnut shell cordovan daltons were are limited run, about 18 months ago. If you find a pair in your size, I'd buy first, then consider whether to return or resell... They are not whiskey (the dark blue carpet and fluorescent lighting makes them look lighter than they are). See these pictures for a more realistic sense of coloration:




I really like them. They are unlined shell cordovan, so they wear cooler (I wear them in the summer, too (which is not something I do with other shell or chromexcel boots).

 

[Jon Cheddar]

Has AE sold wholecut loafers or oxfords recently? I'd love to see them have a go at something like that - it seems the collection is lacking a nice clean wholecut.

Justin Fitzpatrick ("The Shoe Snob") is offering both wholecut oxfords and loafers in his first collection, and they're stunning IMO.



Also, I would love to see AE add bevelled waists to the Independence and cordovan collections.

 

[JermynStreet]

I just ordered a Cambridge Burgundy Cordovan for $360 and a McGraw Burgundy Cordovan + Park Aves in Walnut grain, 2 for $250.
Thank you thank you thank you to all those in thread who were generous enough to post all the deals!

What is the deal with all of this cordovan getting unloaded by AE? Can I order a custom Cordovan Suit? Goodyear welt around the lapel and on the canvas inside the jacket.....????

 

[patrick_b]



I truly appreciate the offer, but there is a cobbler right near my house that sells Saphir products.  I will pick up Renomat today after work.

The color of the stripped area in the photo looks lighter because the wax darkened the leather significantly.  I'm not worried about the color change.

Gotcha. Mine looked rather terrible after the lexol attempt. I'd guess it was more my poor method than anything wrong with the product. However, when I tried Renomat I was instantly convinced. I won't use another leather cleaner again, it works so damn well. I find that my AE 'old' shell shoes are very dry. I sometimes wonder if that's why they sold off all their burgundy shell last year at such steep discount. Perhaps it had been sitting around a while and coupled with the fact that they were changing their burgundy color, they decided to get rid of all old stock.

I use renovateur about once a month on my Leeds & MacNeil and they look visibly dry within a couple of weeks. This is in comparison to my Alden shell, which rarely needs anything other than brushing.

You are lucky to have a Saphir B&M dealer close to home. I'm sure you'll love using Renomat after all the elbow grease that lexol needs. Good luck!

 

[New Shoes1]

Gotcha. Mine looked rather terrible after the lexol attempt. I'd guess it was more my poor method than anything wrong with the product. However, when I tried Renomat I was instantly convinced. I won't use another leather cleaner again, it works so damn well. I find that my AE 'old' shell shoes are very dry. I sometimes wonder if that's why they sold off all their burgundy shell last year at such steep discount. Perhaps it had been sitting around a while and coupled with the fact that they were changing their burgundy color, they decided to get rid of all old stock.

I use renovateur about once a month on my Leeds & MacNeil and they look visibly dry within a couple of weeks. This is in comparison to my Alden shell, which rarely needs anything other than brushing.

You are lucky to have a Saphir B&M dealer close to home. I'm sure you'll love using Renomat after all the elbow grease that lexol needs. Good luck!

Patrick B: the Saphir cordovan creme in neutral does a good job of moisturizing dry shell and giving it a shine.

 

[jch1]

Whoa are they still honoring that deal? How'd you get them to include McGraw in shell?

And the shell offerings were 30% off during Black Friday 2012. But if you can't wait, get'em!

I had originally called for the players (which are listed as "closeout"), but Monica informed me that anything listed as closeout would qualify for the 2-250 deal. I simply asked about a pair of cordovan, and she said I could do it. Works for me!

I'm not sure why one would wait for 30% off when you could get them for well over 50% off (if they are a closeout shoe).

 

[dcinitial]

I had originally called for the players (which are listed as "closeout"), but Monica informed me that anything listed as closeout would qualify for the 2-250 deal. I simply asked about a pair of cordovan, and she said I could do it. Works for me!

I'm not sure why one would wait for 30% off when you could get them for well over 50% off (if they are a closeout shoe).

Yeah I just tried over email a few minutes ago and they wouldn't let me get the shell mcgraws. Maybe the key is to ask them over the phone. I'll try again tomorrow.

Usually the newer/popular shell models arent included in these close out sales.

 

[sfuser]

Hi AE'ers, I'm looking to buy my first AE shoe, and I have two questions (I'm kind of new here, but I've been lurking a little bit). First, do AE shoes polish well? I visited an AE store but most of their shoes (except for the patent leather) looked duller than what I'm used to from J&M and Cole Haan. Were the AE's just not polished? Also, I'm looking for a basic captoe like the Park Aves and am looking for suggestions for the sleekest shoe in this style (also for the lowest price)? Thanks a lot for the help!

 

[JermynStreet]

Hi AE'ers, I'm looking to buy my first AE shoe, and I have two questions (I'm kind of new here, but I've been lurking a little bit). First, do AE shoes polish well? I visited an AE store but most of their shoes (except for the patent leather) looked duller than what I'm used to from J&M and Cole Haan. Were the AE's just not polished? Also, I'm looking for a basic captoe like the Park Aves and am looking for suggestions for the sleekest shoe in this style (also for the lowest price)? Thanks a lot for the help!

Welcome!

What do you mean polished? Do you mean like you can't see the leather pores? Do you mean that the leather looks like a mirror? Different grades of leather look different. AE has full grain leather which is of much higher quality than the Johnson & Murphy and Cole Haan corrected grain leathers.

 

[BootSpell]

Bucksfan,
awesome photos. Can you comment on the walnut daltons a bit more? I'm considering a pair, but in that photo they look like alden whiskey, which I do not need more of.
Also, can you share your impressions about the boots in general? (do you like them, etc)

thanks!

Thanks! - the walnut shell cordovan daltons were are limited run, about 18 months ago. If you find a pair in your size, I'd buy first, then consider whether to return or resell... They are not whiskey (the dark blue carpet and fluorescent lighting makes them look lighter than they are). See these pictures for a more realistic sense of coloration:

I really like them. They are unlined shell cordovan, so they wear cooler (I wear them in the summer, too (which is not something I do with other shell or chromexcel boots).

I agree with Bucksfan. I love mine and agree that if you find some in your size, I'd jump on them. Be aware that I think Bucksfan's walnut shell color is quite rare, imo. I think AE changed their walnut offering or got a different batch and most walnut shell Daltons since mid-2012 when I got mine are much darker. I like the color of mine but if I had the chance to buy another pair in Bucksfan's walnut color, I would, as I like the lighter color. Closer to the calf color, which tempts me to buy the calf version as well. Here are mine, which as you see, are darker.



No 'El Argentino's' Snapseed effects here...

 

[david 112358]

Had to wait 2 weeks for them to ship, but my new Aberdeens finally got here last night.

They fit really well, but they're long! Of course at 10.5eee, it's not like I can go shorter and wider.
They're clunky and a bit rough, but they're perfect for wearing with jeans in wet weather (it's oregon it rains a lot)

 

[Al in Philly]

RenoMat is absolute magic. Good thing I didn't try super hard with Lexol, the two products aren't even in the same league.

 

[donjuan17]

Hi AE'ers, I'm looking to buy my first AE shoe, and I have two questions (I'm kind of new here, but I've been lurking a little bit). First, do AE shoes polish well? I visited an AE store but most of their shoes (except for the patent leather) looked duller than what I'm used to from J&M and Cole Haan. Were the AE's just not polished? Also, I'm looking for a basic captoe like the Park Aves and am looking for suggestions for the sleekest shoe in this style (also for the lowest price)? Thanks a lot for the help!

Welcome!

What do you mean polished? Do you mean like you can't see the leather pores? Do you mean that the leather looks like a mirror? Different grades of leather look different. AE has full grain leather which is of much higher quality than the Johnson & Murphy and Cole Haan corrected grain leathers.

Jermyn is on the money.
Those J&M and Cole Haan shoes are probably corrected grain which gives them a very high polish mirror/ almost plastic look. What you need to know tho is that corrected grain is the devil.
It will not age well and will begin to crack and just be plain ugly.

That being said, Allen Edmonds tends to use full grain calf leather on most of their stuff. This will age very nicely with a little care and attention.
As for the sleek look you're searching for I would recomend anything on the 5 last. I.E: Strand, Park Avenues,... pretty much all balmorals.

Look forward to seeing your collection expand and don't forget to post pics!

 

[sfuser]

Welcome!

What do you mean polished? Do you mean like you can't see the leather pores? Do you mean that the leather looks like a mirror? Different grades of leather look different. AE has full grain leather which is of much higher quality than the Johnson & Murphy and Cole Haan corrected grain leathers.

I mean polished as in slightly shiny (not like a mirror - I know that's more for patent leather for formalwear). The AEs I saw looked dullish like my sofa leather; maybe that's the way they're supposed to look and I'm just not looking for the right things in a good shoe.

 

[OptoDoc]



I just stopped by the local AE shop to order some white Spiaggia, and I took a couple of quick pictures of both colors. I'll post better pictures once I receive mine, but they're on the 5-last, if anyone was wondering about sizing.

The navy ones are exactly what I've been looking for from AE...minus the contrast stitching